Extension shoe



R. E. HITE TAL 2,301,702

EXTENSION SHOE Nov. 10, 1942.

Filed Jan. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :Fi a. l

Nov. 10, 1942. R. E. HlTE E'rAL EXTENS ION S HOE Filed Jan. 16, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 2 s SZ, n m. n w 7 0 R ff m M7 f /cv H r ff WH for EN/ @my@an SM 05M @Mz 7 W Patented Nov. 10, 1942 EXTENSION SHOE` Robert ErnestHite, James Romond Grinels, and William Griffith Purcell, Richmond, Va.

Application January `16, 1042, Serial No. 427,048

(Cl. Sii-8.5)

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an extension shoe designed for attachment tothe regular shoe of a person having one leg shorter than the other.

One object of the invention is to provide an extension shoe which may bestrongly made of a light weight material or materials, and which may bereadily attached to or detached from the regular shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extension shoe which isadjustable as to height to secure an accurate positioning of its treador sole for bearing contact with the ground or surface to be trodden,and which may be to a certain degree also adjustable as to width toconform to soles of regular shoes of a standard length but varying tosome extent in width or shape from each other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extension shoewhich may be made of a comparatively small number of parts of metal,plastic or composite materials, which can be stamped out or otherwiseconstructed to adapt the same to be manufactured by standarized or massproduction methods.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extension shoewhich may be used on a succession of regular shoes, to avoid thenecessity of discarding an extension shoe each time a worn regular shoeis discarded.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extension shoe ofa standardized type and which may be purchased by a customer in readymade form, suitable for application to his regular shoe, and without thenecessity of the customer being required to have an extension shoeespecially made for him.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extension shoewhich may be of any desired external appearance to conform to theappearance of a regular shoe, which may be worn with ease andconvenience, and which may also be repaired and otherwise readily keptin serviceable and presentable condition at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear in the course ofthe subjoined description, the invention consists of the features ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a regular shoe hav- .ing applied theretoan extension constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through 55 the lower portionof the shoe and the eXtension.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section cn the line 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a detail section on line l-'i of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section showing anadjustment feature.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I designates a regularshoe proper including an upper foot section 2 adapted to receive thefoot of the person for whom the shoe is designed and having a sole 3.

The lower, tread or extension foot section of the shoe comprises threemain sections, to wit, a top plate section or attaching section 4, afront ball section 5, a rear heel section 6 and an intermediate bridgeor instep section l.

The plate section 4 is of a shape and size conforming generally to thatof the sole 3 and is suitably apertured and provided with downwardlyextending tubular nuts or cylindrical sleeves 8 fixed thereto andadapted to receive adjusting and fastening screws 9 passing downwardlythrough the sole 3, the openings in the plate 4 and the nuts or sleeves8, whereby the plate section and tread extension may be fastened to theshoe I for adjusting the extension tread relative to the shoe sole 3 ifdesired. Ordinarily this adjustment may not be required, but if requireda supplemental sole or lifts in the form of washers It may be disposedabout each adjusted screw 9, as shown in Fig. 8, to take up the spacebetween the sole 4and attaching plate. lf one or more complete lifts areused in place of washers, these lifts may cover and conform to the sizeand shape of the sole of the plate 4. The plate 4 may be made of alight, strong and durable material, such as an aluminum alloy, a strongplastic material, or of a composition material of suitable character.

The front ball section 5 of the extension sole comprises an outer shellportion or member II and an inner shell portion or member I2telescopically fitted therein, the shell portion i I being open at itsbase and the shell portion i2 closed by a bottom plate I3 of suitableform. The outer or stationary shell portion or member II issuitablysecured stationarily or detachably to the plate 4, as by means offastening screws I4 engaging openings therein and in attaching lugs ortongues l5 integral with and depending from the plate 4. Y

The inner shell portion or member I2 is adjustable within the outershell portion or member II to vary the height of the ball portion of theshoe. This may be eifected by pivotally connecting the shell portion I2at its front with the front of the outer shell portion II, as indicatedat I6, so that the shell portion I2 may be tiltably adjusted'upward anddownward to dierent degrees and as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l.Suitable means may be employed to secure the shell portion I5 inadjusted position. As shown i in the present instance, the shell portionis provided at each side, for this purpose, with a plurality of threadedopenings I'i adapted to receive an adjusting and fastening screw I8 onthe shell portion II to secure the shell portion I2 at the proper levelof adjustment. In place of the front pivotal connection I6 the sides ofthe shell portion l2 may be provided at the front with openings similarto the openings Il for the reception of screws similar to the screws I8to `adjustably `secure the forward end of the shell portion I2 to theforward end of the shell portion I I to adjustably connect the forwardends of said shell portions together. In practice, the parts 4, II andI2 are designed to be each made of a single stamping of metal or to bemolded or otherwise shaped from plastic material. When the shell portionI2 is made of metal, it is desirably manufactured from a single piece ofsheet material divided to form the sides and front or toe portion of theshell portion which are partially separated from the bottom plate I3 anda rear plate portion I9 which may be integral at its lower edge with therear edge of the plate portion I3. In forming a shell portion I2 somanufactured, the formed parts are bent into their proper relativepositions and secured together, as by providing the bottom plate I3 withupturned lugs or screws 2D secured to the sides of the shell by screws2-I and by forming the rear plate I9 with inwardly extending flanges 22secured to the sides of the shell portion by screws 23. It will beevident that such construction of the front or ball portion 5 adapts thesame to be adjusted as to height to vary the height of the ball portionof the shoe as occasion may require.

The rear or heel section 6 of the extension tread is formed of an outershell portion or member 24, an inner shell portion or member 25,telescopically fitted together, and a bottom plate 2t. The outer shellportion or member 2d is formed of a U-shaped stamping or molded piece ofmaterial having side and back walls but normally open at top, front andbottom. This outer shell portion 24 is stationarily but detachablysecured at its sides and rear by screws 2l to lugs 28, similar to thelugs I5, depending from the plate 4, so that when applied its normallyopen top will be closed by the heel portion of the plate bl. The `innershell portion 25 is also formed of a U- shaped stamping or molding, butits sides are provided with inwardly extending overlapping anges 29which are secured together, as by screws or rivets 36; These flangesterminate above the lower edges of the side walls of the shell 25 fromextensions of which they are formed and lie in rear of the vfront edgesof the side walls lying therebelow. The bottom plate 26 conforms incontour to and closes the open `bottoms of -the shell portions 25. .andY25 and is provided at Vits sides with upturned lugs or x75 tongues 3lsecured to the shell 25 by screws 32 and is provided at its front withan upturned ange 33 carrying the front lugs 3K5 and which lies inadvance of the flanges 29 and closes the open portion of the shell 25therebelow. The shell 25 is adjustable with relation to the shell 24 tovary the height of the heel section S and suitable provision may be madeto secure them in adjusted position. In the present instance threadedopenings Se are provided for this purpose in the shell 25 to receivesecuring screws 35 on the shell 24. Provision is thus made to adapt thefront ball section 5 and rear heel ysection 6 of the tread to beadjusted to vary the height of the tread as may be required for a properfootmg.

The bridge section l comprises an arched or inverted U-shaped stampingincluding an intermediate body portion, xedly secured to the plate 4, asby one or more rivets 36, and depending legs 31 and 33. The leg 3l formsa bearing guide against which the part I9 of the ball section 5 abutsand which is provided with tongues or legs 39 to which the sides of theouter shell II of the section 5 are secured by screws d, whereby saidshell is rmly fixed at its rear to the plate il. The leg 38 extendsdownward between the flange 33 of heel plate 2B and the flanges 29 ofshell 25 of section 6 and forms with the flange 29 closure members atthis point and also a guide for the shell 25 in its adjustments. Thisleg 38 is provided with tongues or lugs il to which are fastened thesides of the shell 2d by screws 42, whereby said shell 2d is firmlyfixed at the front to the plate ll.

In practice sole pieces it and itl of leather, rubber or a compositionmaterial may befastened to the bottoms of the shells i2 and 25 to formtread surfaces. Also in practice the outer surfaces of the parts of theshoe extension may be provided with a .leather covering conforming ornot in color or appearance to that of the shoe I, or the parts of theshoe extension may be made of a material colored to conform or not tothat of the shoe I. Furthermore, the shoe I may b-e provided with a heelto rest on the heel portion of the plate il or it may be heelless andits sole arranged to rest directly on the heel portion of the plate 4.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that our inventionprovides an extension for attachment to the regular shoe of a personhaving one leg shorter than the other which is readily attachable to theregular shoe and detachable therefrom, so that the extension may be usedin connection successively with regular shoes as those in use are wornout. -also it will be seen that the invention provides an extension shoewhich is so constructed as to be light in weight and adapted to bemanufactured in quantity by mass production methods, so that thc cost ofthe extension to users may be made comparatively low. Furthermore, itwill be seen that the invention provides an extension shoe which isadjustable as to height, to secure a proper bearing contact of the shoesole with the surface to be trodden, and which may also be adjusted tocertain degrees as Yto width by adjustment of the securing screws of theside walls of the shell portions, to adapt'the shoe extension to conformto.

regular shoes of standard lengths butlwhose soles vary to some extent inconformation or widths. By our` improved construction it is possible toprovide a shoe extension which maybe applied to aA regular shoe and'purchased readily in the market by an intended user, thus doing awaywith the necessity of users of such shoes being compelled to have theirextension shoes specially made at a high cost.

While the structure disclosed is preferred, it will of course beunderstood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement ofparts, other than those speciiied, and falling within the scope of theappended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit orsacriiicing any of the advantages of the invention.

What we claim isz- 1. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to aregular shoe having an upper and a sole, comprising a top plate sectionfor attachment to the sole of the regular shoe, and a bottom treadsection, and means for detachably connecting the top plate section tothe shoe sole and adjustably and detachably connecting the bottom treadsection to the top plate section;

2. An extension sole adapted for attachment to a regular shoe having anupper and a sole, comprising a top plate section for attachment to thesole of the regular shoe, and a bottom portion consisting of a irontsection, a rear or heel section and a bridge section interposedtherebetween, and means for detachably connecting the top plate sectionwith the shoe sole and the sections of the tread portion with eachother.

3. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to a regular shoe having anupper and a sole, comprising a top plate section for attachment to thesole of the regular shoe, and a bottom tread portion consisting of frontand rear or heel sections, each formed of a body member and a solemember, and a bridge section interposed between said front and reartread sections, said sections of the tread portion being detachablyconnected with the top plate section and the members thereof beingdetachably and adjustably connected with each other.

4. An extension shoe for attachment to the sole of a regular shoecomprising a top plate section for attachment to the shoe sole, a fronttread section, a rear tread section and a bridge section interposedbetween said front and rear tread sections, each tread sectioncomprising a pair of relatively adjustable members, and means detachablyconnecting said sections with each other and the top plate section.

5. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to a regular shoe having asole comprising a top plate section, a front tread portion formed ofrelatively adjustable sections, a rear tread portion formed ofrelatively adjustable sections, means for detachably and adjustablyconnecting said sections with each other and to the top plate section,and a bridge member disposed between and connecting said front and reartread portions.

6. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to the sole of a regularshoe comprising a top plate section, a front tread portion formed ofrelatively adjustable outer and inner shell sections, one provided witha tread plate, a rear tread portion formed of relatively adjustableouter and inner shell sections, one having a tread portion, meansdetachably and adjustably connecting the shell sections of the treadportions with each other and with said top plate section, and a bridgemember extending between and connecting similar shells of the front andrear tread portions.

7. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to the sole of a regularshoe comprising a top plate portion, a front tread portion composed ofvertically adjustable sections, a rear tread portion composed ofvertically adjustable sections, a bridge member connecting saidsections, and connecting means between the front and rear sections andthe top plate section.

8. An extension shoe for attachment to the sole of a regular shoecomprising a top plate section, a front tread section consisting ofpivotally connected outer and inner shell members, a rear tread sectionconsisting of telescopic outer and inner shells, one of the sections of`each shell having a sole portion, means detachably and adjustablyconnecting the shells of the tread portions with each other and with thetop plate section, and a bridge member connecting the inner shells ofthe tread sections.

9. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to the sole of a regularshoe comprising a top plate section, a hollow iront tread section formedof an outer shell and an inner shell, the inner shell having a treadportion, a rear tread section formed of an inner shell and an outershell, the inner shell having a tread portion, means connecting similarshells of the tread sections with the top plate section, a bridgemember` extending between and connecting similar shells of the treadsections, and means detachably and adjustably connecting the shells ofeach section with each other.

10. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to a regular shoe having asole, comprising a top plate section, a front; tread section, a reartread section, each of said tread sections consistingr of adjustablyconnected members, means detachably connecting the tread sections withthe top plate section, and a bridge member extending between andconnecting the tread sections.

11. An extension shoe adapted for attachment to a regular shoe having asole, comprising a tcp plate section and a bottom tread section formedof a front portion, rear portion and a bridge portion connecting saidfront and rear portions, said front and rear portions of the treadsection being formed of adjustably connected members detachablyconnecting said portions with each other and with the top plate andbridge section.

ROBERT ERNEST HITE. JAMES ROMOND GRINELS. WILLIAM GRIFFITH PURCELL.

